Multistyli recorders with styli cyclically moved through interstylus spacing

ABSTRACT

A multichannel recorder has a series of styli, movable cyclically transversely relative to a sheet of electrosensitive material movable longitudinally, the styli being connected individually to a source of voltage through individual trigger means, triggering of any trigger means causing the voltage to make a dot on the electrosensitive material at the position of the appropriate stylus, the combination of the motion and of the dot resulting in a readable trace appearing on the surface of the electrosensitive material.

United States Patent Stringer et al.

MULTISTYLI RECORDERS WITH STYLI CYCLICALLY MOVED THROUGH INTERSTYLUSSPACING inventors: Philip Roland Stringer; Eric Charles Gatland, both ofDevonport, Auckland, New Zealand Assignee: The New Zealand InventionsDevelopment Authority, Wellington, New Zealand Filed: Sept. 10, 1969Appl. No.: 856,605

Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 10, 1968 New Zealand ..1537l0US. Cl. ..346/74 E, 178/66 R, l78/8, 346/74 ES, 346/ 139 Int. Cl. ..G0ld15/06, H04n 1/12, H04n 1/18 Field of Search ..l78/6.6 A, 6.6 R, 8;346/74 E, 346/74 ES, 139

[ 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,311,8032/ 1943 Wise 1 78/66 3,166,752 1/1965 Waterman... ....346/74 E 3,369,2502/1968 Gifit ..178/6.6

Primary Examiner-Howard W. Britton Attorney-Holman and Stern [57]ABSTRACT A multichannel'recorder has a series of styli, movablecyclically transversely relative to a sheet of electrosensitive material movable longitudinally, the styli being connected individually to asource of voltage through individual trigger means, triggering of anytrigger means causing the voltage to make a dot on the electrosensitivematerial at the position of the appropriate stylus, the combination ofthe motion and of the dot resulting in a readable trace appearing on thesurface of the electrosensitive material.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patentea Feb. 22, 1972 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Patented Feb. 22, 1972 3,644,931

5 Sheets-She 2 Patentd Feb. 22, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 MULTISTYLIRECORDERS WITH STYLI CYCLICALLY MOVED THROUGH INTERSTYLUS SPACING Thisinvention relates to multichannel recorders. In connection with, forexample, electronic data processing equipment it is frequently desiredto write multiple adjacent parallel bands simultaneously to recordinformation on a strip of electrosensitive paper. At present, therecorders to effect this are somewhat expensive or do not provide anadequate degree of variation to enable the recorded information to beset forth in a readily readable manner.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide amultichannel recorder which will obviate or minimize the foregoingdisadvantages or which will at least provide the public with a usefulchoice.

Accordingly, in one aspect the invention consists in a method ofeffecting multiple recording, said method comprising the step ofapplying short voltage pulses from a series of styli to a moving stripof electrosensitive material, the pulses from each styli being appliedto one of a series of adjacent parallel bands and, simultaneously,moving the styli transversely of the length of the strip relative tosaid strip, each pulse producing a small black dot on theelectrosensitive material, and the movement in two dimensions enablingdots to be provided in each band to form a recording of the pulses onthe electrosensitive material with each dot positioned from its.

preceding dot to give a readable trace.

In a further aspect, the invention consists in a multiple channelrecorder, said recorder comprising a frame, means adapted to move astrip of electrosensitive material on said frame in a lengthwisedirection, a plurality of styli each adapted to apply an electricalimpulse to the electrosensitive paper, means adapted to cause a relativetransverse movement of said styli, and electrosensitive materialrelative to each other, and means adapted to apply electrical pulsesthrough said styli, to said electrosensitive material, the constructionand arrangement being such that in use said styli apply said pulses tosaid electrosensitive material in bands, and the twodimensional movementof the paper relative to said styli causing said pulses to form anassociation of the dots caused by the application of said pulses to saidelectrosensitive material, so that indicia or other information isformed as a record on said electrosensitive material by the traceresulting from the series of dots.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recorder according to the invention,and

FIG. 2 is a further perspective view from the opposite end, showing acover for styli shown in place, and showing positioning of printedcircuits forming part ofthe recorder.

FIG. 3 is a perspective sketch of a variable throw crank,

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the paper feed and flow.

FIG. 5 is a much enlarged view of one form of the styli, and itsoperating means,

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic sketch of an encoding device forming part ofthe recorder,

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the paper and stylus carrier motor drive.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic sketch of the styli electrical supply andwiring, and,

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of a voltage control forming part of thewiring of the recorder.

Referring to the drawings, a frame 1 carries a pair of brackets 2, whichin turn carry a pair of rods 3 and a carriage 4 is mounted by brackets5, the brackets 5 sliding on the rods 3. The carriage 4 is oscillated bya crank pin 6 driving a connecting rod 7, the connecting rod beingthinned at 8 so that it will flex at that point, and being fixed to apost 9 fixed to the carriage 4. The crank pin 6 is adjustable by beingfitted to a male dovetail block 10 mounted in a dovetailed slot in arotatable member 11, the dovetailed block 10 being adjustably positionedby opposing thrust screws 12 and 13, associated with a part 14-of therotatable member 11. The member 11 is driven by a suitable driving meanswhich, comprises a synchronous motor or preferably a variable speedmotor e.g., a stepping motor 15 pulsed by signals derived by an internalor external oscillator as will be described further later. One form ofstyli 16 are tungsten styli (see FIG. 5) mounted in a short tube 17 andhaving a cantilever spring 18 bearing on the end of the tube 17, thetube 17 in turn sliding in a guide 19 fixed to a part 20 of the frame 4.

We have found that there is surprisingly little wear of the tungstenstyli, but adjustment for wear has been provided for e.g., by raisingand lowering the carriage e.g., by the use of removable shims.

Any convenient number may be provided, and we have found that 128 issuitable for l l-inch-width paper.

A paper feed is provided, comprising a supply roll 21 of electrosensitive paper, and the paper web 22 passes around the roller 23 beingheld on by spring loaded pressure rollers 23a and the paper is led to afurther roller 24, so that there is an exposed surface 25 and thenpasses under a further spring loaded roller 26 to keep the paper incontact with the roller 24. The rollers 23 and 24 are driven, the roller23 by a chain 27 and the sprockets 28 and 29. The sprocket 28 isconnected to the roller 23 by a friction clutch, the sprocket 29 isdriven by a suitable driving means, for example a stepping motoroperated by an external or internal oscillator as will be describedfurther later. The roller 24, which is a takeup roller, is driventhrough a friction clutch by a spring or belt drive 30 and pulleys at aslightly increased speed.

The above construction describes a recorder in which the carriage isoscillated in a sinusoidal manner by the crank pin 6 and the connectingrod 7. For some purposes, a simulated linear motion of the styli isdesirable. This can be achieved by use of an encoding device which may,for example, be associated with the stepping motor 15, and such anencoding device is referenced 31 in the drawings. In such a device, adrum 32 is rotatable by the shaft of the stepping motor 7, and the drum32 has a plurality of apertures 33, 34, 35 and 36 which are provided onthe surface of the drum, these apertures being positioned and spaced asrequired. A source of light 37 leads through a screen 38 to a series ofphotoelectric cells 39, 40, 41 and 42. The modulation of photoelectriccells is used to control electrical pulses given to the styli as will bedescribed further later.

The electrical circuit for the paper drive motor 43 and for the motor 15is shown in FIG. 7. Thus, for the paper drive motor, an external input44 is connected to one terminal of a two way switch 45, the otherterminal 46 being connected to an internal oscillator which may bevariable for example between a low frequency and 200 Hz., suchoscillator being referenced 47. A pulse shaper 48 is provided leading toa scaling device 49 with which is associated a speed control switch 50,the effect of the scaling device being to pass on selected pulses fromthe pulse shaper so that either a direct connection is made to thestepping motor drive translator 51 or the scaling device is used todivide the pulses by 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 or 256 to giveprogressively lower numbers of pulses transmitted to the motor drivetranslator. The motor drive translator is connected to a mains supplythrough a power supply 52, and the translator is connected to the paperdrive motor 43. The power supply also supplies 24 volts DC to thestepping motor drive translator 53 which supplies the carrier motor 15,being connected to a return wire 54. A pulse shaper 55 is provided inthe circuit of the translator 53, and if desired an external input maybe connected at 56.

In FIG. 8, there is a diagrammatic representation of some of theconnections to the styli 16.

When the styli 16 have a suitable electric potential applied to them acurrent flows through the electro sensitive paper 25 to the rotatingcylinder 23 which is connected to the earth of a power supply 58 capableof supplying the suitable electric potential for example v. However anintensity control 66 can be operated to set the potential at from say60-150 v. The power supply output feeds through a supply regulator 59having an on/off input control 68, such control, for example, beingconnected to the photoelectric cells of the encoding device shown inFIG. 6, so that the output of the supply regulator is interrupted at theswitching rate of the photoelectric cell circuits. I

The supply regulator output is connected to the inputs of the stylusregulators 69.

The output of each stylus regulator (69) connected to a stylus 16.

The circuit of one stylus regulator 69 is shown in FIG. 8 in which the150 v. from the power supply 58 enters through lead 61, the control lead60 controlling a transistor 62 which in turn switches a furthertransistor 63 leading to a lead 64 which is connected to the appropriatestylus. One of these circuits is provided -for each stylus, and thecircuits are provided as printed circuits 65 as shown in FIG. 2.

The use of the construction will be clear from the foregoing.

Suitable connections are made to the leads 60 controlling pulses to theindividual styli, tag, from a data processing machine, and the dataprocessing machine can also have associated with it electronic outputsadapted to control the stepping motor as well as to control thehigh-voltage pulses to the styli. The rate of drive in both thelengthwise and transverse directions can be adjusted and correlated tothe pulses applied to the styli so that a trace in the form ofa seriesof dots in each band traversed by a styli can provide indicia accordingto the signals received, each dot being made by the discharge of anelectric potential from the individual styli to earth through the paper11. The precise form of the trace will vary according to the input, butthe arrangement is such that when a stylus is provided with a writingpulse, being energized by the output of the circuit shown in FIG. 8, ablack dot is produced on the electrosensitive paper, such dot beingproduced by the application of a voltage of the order of 150 voltsbetween the stylus l6 and the earthed cylinder 23. By changing the rateat which dots are made on the paper, a change in tone can be ob.-tained, a high rate giving a dark black band, a low rate giving a lightband. By using this principle of dot modulation, the grey scale of theelectrosensitive paper is considerably enhanced. If the transversemotion amplitude is less than the styli separation, each stylus can beused to represent either analogue information (color tonal gradationrepresenting signal strength) or digital information (black and whiterepresenting signal and no signal). With the wag, i.e., transversemotion amplitude equal to the styli separation, analogue information canbe recorded in a more conventional format with instantaneous signalstrength represented by positions across the paper. The spatialresolution which, in this use, is limited by the styli separation can begreatly improved by the use of the encoder 31, which enables printingin, for example, any one of 15 positions of the wag. Such an encoder isdescribed above with reference to the FIG. 6, the encoder giving signalsthrough the lead 60 to cause switching on and off of the circuit shownin FIG. 8 at the required intervals to divide the band.

A major advantage is that actual recording is in full view of theoperator, and is visible at the point of recording on the paper. Chartloading isreadily accomplished from the front, and a paper tear off edgeis provided. The paper passes over a large firm flat surface for chartnotations and measurements I using a built in sliding cursor.

Printing of time markers or channel identification is readilyaccomplished by presenting suitable pulse sequences to the desiredstyli. Both the paper drive and the wag mechanism are driven fromstepping or other preferably variable speed motors driven from signalsderived from an external or internal pulsing device or oscillator. Theinternal oscillating frequency is variable over a range and thefrequency divider circuits, e.g., the speed control circuit of FIG. 7,enables selection ofa wide range of paper speeds and associated wagrates. Constant contact pressure is applied to the styli and there issome automatic compensation for wear due to the spring loading. Becausethe styli are kept in constant motion overa small amplitude on the paperata very low pressure, very slow paper speeds are possible, for example,speeds from as low as 1 inch per hour to as high as 200 inches per hourare readily obtainable. The wag rate is preferably of the order of 0.075inch per stroke, and the paper movement and wag rate may be coordinatedto give movement of any desired combination. The encoder shown in FIG. 6is arranged to split the band widths into a number of segments and, forexample, signals from a computer or other source of signals has thesignals therefrom fed through the encoder gates comprising thephotoelectric cell circuits above described, and the result is that itis possibly by using the encoder with sinusoidal motion of the wagamplitude to simulate electrically a substantially linear motion.

If desired, the oscillating head could be mounted on cantileveredsprings instead of being provided with the guides 3 and brackets 5.Also, the head 20 is arranged to be tilted or removable so that thestyli can be disconnected from the paper for any purpose.

The electrosensitive material used is that supplied by CommunicationPapers Inc. under the trademark Timemark 14" or its equivalent, andhaving a width of l 1 inches and a length of approximately 300 feet. Itis possible to record about 8 hours information for example on electromagnetic tape, and then to speed up the tape to record the results fromthe tape on the electrosensitive paper. The latter being run at anydesired speed but usually at an increased rate corresponding to theincrease tape replay speed. Thus the instrument is not tied to real timeand we have found that speed factors of up to 32 can be readily achievede.g., 8 hours recording can be displayed in 15 minutes. The foregoing isa major advantage and a further advantage is that there are nosynchronization problems such as occur with a serial single stylusrecorder. The recorder gives multichannel output, and the pulseamplitude or frequency can be proportional to the intensity of thesignal. Pulse duration is of the order of one-half to 1 msec. The stylimay be wagged at suitable speeds, for example, 2-l0 Hz. If fed with theappropriate pulses, the recorder can be used to print characters. Thus,if some channels are not used to display outputs from a parallelprocessing device, these can be fed with appropriate pulses to producealphanumeric annotations.

The construction results in slow motion of all the mechanicalcomponents, particularly when compared with recorders of similarapplicability. The result is low wear with excellent mechanicalreliability. Continuous operation recorders of this type have run forseveral thousand hours, the only maintenance required in this periodbeing oiling of a few mechanical movements. The construction of therecorder is such that the number of parts of this nature have beenreduced to a minimum, and consequently the recorder is extremelysuitable for continuous operation. The construction is robust, and canwithstand shock and vibration.

The recorder has a wide range of applications, such as the display ofthe bearing or range time information from digital sonar devices wherethe bearing or range interval is being computed in parallel. Theresulting output display is a smooth intensity versus time display whichallows a high degree of visual integration to be achieved. It hasgeophysical applications, and is ideal for showing recurring events asfound in geophysical applications, because very slow speeds areavailable. Processing of the record is not required after theinformation has been presented to the styli, and the information isimmediately available. The last mentioned point is particularlyimportant for speeds as low as 1 inch per hour. In a recorder where thepaper must travel even as little as 1 inch before information isvisible, this would still correspond to a time delay of one hour.

The recorder can present information in many ways, first as an intensitydisplay, second as an xy display, and finally as an alphanumericdisplay. If a multisensor is used to scan an object, then each of thesensors can be connected to the input of a stylus. For example, if anarray of infrared sensors is used to measure body temperature, theoutput could be presented in an intensity time record. Alternatively.the sensors could be nuclear particle counters where the count ratewould produce an intensity variation on each particular channel. Thus,the device can be used for scanning the intensity of radio activity, asfor example in radio active paper chromatography. The machine can beoperated in two modes, in the first of which there is a standard sizeddot, by the use of a constant voltage and varying pulse rate or,alternatively, the voltage applied between the styli 16 and the cylinder23 through the electrosensitive paper 25 can be varied to give a varyingdot size, this mode using a fixed pulse rate.

If desired, a store for signals can be provided, for example, a 100-bitshift register store can be provided, enabling signals to be storedbefore being transmitted to the styli.

What we claim is:

l. A method of simultaneously recording numerous inputs of data on anelectrosensitive sheet having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis,said method comprising the steps of moving the sheet longitudinally,oscillating a series of uniformly spaced styli while the styli arecontinuously in contact with the sheet, the styli being arranged andoscillated in a line transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sheet,the amplitude of oscillation of the styli being approximately equal tothe spacing distance between adjacent styli so that each stylus recordson a band, the series of bends so formed being parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the sheet, and applying short voltage pulses to thesheet so that each pulse marks the sheet with a dot, the relativemovement in two directions between the styli and the sheet giving acoherent record across the width and along the length of the sheet.

2. An apparatus for simultaneously recording numerous inputs of data onan electrosensitive sheet having a longitudinal axis and a transverseaxis, said apparatus comprising a frame, means adapted to move a stripof electrosensitive material on said frame in a lengthwise direction, aplurality of styli arranged in a line transverse to the longitudinalaxis of the material and each adapted to apply an electrical impulse tothe electrosensitive sheet so as to form a dot thereon, means tooscillate said styli transversely to and while continuously in contactwith said sheet, the amplitude of oscillation of the styli beingapproximately equal to the spacing distance between adjacent styli sothat each stylus records on a band, the series of bands so formed beingparallel to the longitudinal axis of the sheet, and means adapted toapply electrical pulses through said styli to said electrosensitivematerial so that each pulse marks the sheet with a dot, the relativemovement in two directions between the styli and the sheet giving acoherent record across the width and along the length of the sheet.

3. A recorder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means to effecttransverse movement of said styli comprises a carriage mounting saidstyli, means mounting said carriage and permitting oscillatory movementthereof, and mechanical means adapted to oscillate said carriage.

4. A recorder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said longitudinal feed ofsaid electrosensitive material and said oscillatory motion of said styliis driven by a stepping motor supplied by pulses from a suitable powersupply.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least some of said styliare supplied with power under the control of an encoding deviceincluding a gate circuit adapted to trigger the supply of power appliedto the electrosensitive material at the appropriate instant.

1. A method of simultaneously recording numerous inputs of data on anelectrosensitive sheet having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis,said method comprising the steps of moving the sheet longitudinally,oscillating a series of uniformly spaced styli while the styli arecontinuously in contact with the sheet, the styli being arranged andoscillated in a line transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sheet,the amplitude of oscillation of the styli being approximately equal tothe spacing distance between adjacent styli so that each stylus recordson a band, the series of bends so formed being parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the sheet, and applying short voltage pulses to thesheet so that each pulse marks the sheet with a dot, the relativemovement in two directions between the styli and the sheet giving acoherent record across the width and along the length of the sheet. 2.An apparatus for simultaneously recording numerous inputs of data on anelectrosensitive sheet having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis,said apparatus comprising a frame, means adapted to move a strip ofelectrosensitive material on said frame in a lengthwise direction, aplurality of styli arranged in a line transverse to the longitudinalaxis of the material and each adapted to apply an electrical impulse tothe electrosensitive sheet so as to form a dot thereon, means tooscillate said styli transversely to and while continuously in contactwith said sheet, the amplitude of oscillation of the styli beingapproximately equal to the spacing distance between adjacent styli sothat each stylus records on a band, the series of bands so formed beingparallel to the longitudinal axis of the sheet, and means adapted toapply electrical pulses through said styli to said electrosensitivematerial so that each pulse marks the sheet with a dot, the relativemovement in two directions between the styli and the sheet giving acoherent record across the width and along the length of the sheet.
 3. Arecorder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means to effect transversemovement of said styli comprises a carriage mounting said styli, meansmounting said carriage and permitting oscillatory movement thereof, andmechanical means adapted to oscillate said carriage.
 4. A recorder asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said longitudinal feed of saidelectrosensitive material and said oscillatory motion of said styli isdriven by a stepping motor supplied by pulses from a suitable powersupply.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least some of saidstyli are supplied with power under the control of an encoding deviceincluding a gate circuit adapted to trigger the supply of power appliedto the electrosensitive material at the appropriate instant.